We in the RetroDECK team believe that modding, texture replacements and tinkering is a core part of the gaming experience.
Have have ever wanted to try to run GZDOOM mods/tweaks/fan-games? Installing them quite daunting for the average person and understand how to get them running.
You sometimes need to access the hidden folders, understand what configs to edit and in some edge cases drag-and-drop files into the GZDOOM application itself.
So we set out on a goal to improve and lower the barrier to running GZDOOM with mods in 0.8.0b.
Inspired by the previous work done by AmberELEC, we implemented a brand new and re-envisioned `.doom` file parser. We rebuilt it from the ground up and with the simple goal of making it easier for you to play DOOM in RetroDECK and hopefully offer a unique experience.
### What is the RetroDECK .doom file?
For full details read here: [The RetroDECK .doom file](../wiki_engine_guides/gzdoom/retrodeck-doomfile.md)
The RetroDECK `.doom` file is just a textfile that allows you create your very own doom mod-pack with ease, where each line represents a file name the mod loading order.
All you need to do is:
- Copy the games and mods somewhere into `/roms/doom/`.
- Create a text file
- Copy the full filenames in order in per line in the text file.
- Save the file as `something.doom` into `/roms/doom/`
- Launch from ES-DE and enjoy
**Example: Project Brutality**
Let's say you want create a one mod .doom file with [Project Brutality](https://www.moddb.com/mods/project-brutality/downloads) and DOOM2.
Let's call it:
`Project Brutality.doom`
The contents will look like this (except the text within () )
### I have bought DOOM (1993) and DOOM 2 on Steam how to get my WADs?
Read more here: [Get your WADS](https://retrodeck.readthedocs.io/en/latest/wiki_engine_guides/gzdoom/extract-doom-wads/)
### What about controls?
Read more here: [RetroDECK GZDOOM Controls](https://retrodeck.readthedocs.io/en/latest/wiki_engine_guides/gzdoom/gzdoom-controls/)
Instead of opting for some of the traditional GZDOOM inputs for a controller we instead decided to design it after modding that has more inputs then normal DOOM ever had.
The control scheme is based both on modern FPS games but also the game `TimeSplitter: Future Perfect` for the PlayStation 2.
The main feature is that `L1` and `L2` is already pre-bound for various mod actions like throwing grenades or activate special abilities for Brutal Doom and Project Brutality based mods.
But the buttons `L1` and `L2` are also free to be used in any other mod you might want to play, all you need to know is that those two buttons are always available for you to bind what ever new actions the mods have to.
GZDOOM have some kind of conflict with Steam Input in when more then one controller that causes input looping in menus. Make sure that the controller you are using is set as Player 1 else use Reorder Controllers interface in Steam to make it Player 1.
RetroDECK will not provide any new: configurations, bug fixes, improvements or support towards the AppImages. There is also a risk that future updates can break the compatibility with the AppImages (they are no longer maintained), this is a temporary as-is solution.
This is a new layout for the Steam Deck with a lighter radial menu on the left touchpad. Some users did not want to have the full radial menu system but would rather just have something more simple.
A new SCUMMVM Menu allows quick access to common commands used by a big chunk of the SCUMMVM games.
The design intent is that when you are playing a SCUMMVM game on the Steam Deck. You can have the SCUMMVM menu open on the left touchpad while you use the mouse on the right touchpad to navigate the game.
This menu is a tiny showcase on what is possible with radial menus, we also wanted to add other famous cheats like the Konami Code on a button but... <br>
A bug in Steam Input prevents us from add more cheats the two we have added (the RetroDECK Team have reported the bug to Valve).
All controller layouts uses the same one layer radial menu with good to have hotkeys in addition to the normal button hotkeys. To access the radial menu press and hold SELECT + Move the Left Joystick and Press L3 to press the radial button.
We have also gotten user reports that these layouts work on devices that simulates certain controllers via Steam Input like the Lenovo Legion Go. The devices will pickup one the layout it is mimicing if it is a DualSense or Xbox Wireless and allow hotkeys to be used on that device.
The RetroDECK Team does not own these devices and we can not test them ourself, but if you discover something you can report to the RetroDECK Team on Discord or Matrix.
The Radial menu quick access for various good to have PC commands like ESC, F1, Enter but also Screen Switching on Dual Screen Emulators or Change Discs. The intent is to use the button combos as the main input for the important hotkeys like saving and loading.
One other important feature is press and hold SELECT and move Right Stick and it will work as Mouse with R3 as Left Click and L3 as Right Click. This can be extremely useful:
This menu is used on all controllers by pressing by pressing and holding SELCT + Moving the Left Joystick.
It features a variety of PC commands and other commands that are good to have. While the most important commands are bound to the normal button combos.
Sometimes the emulators / engines gets confused on what controller is player 1 and takes the docked Steam Deck as player 1 and not the external contrller.
You can solve this by going into the Reorder Controllers interface in Steam and try switching between Player 1 or Player 2.
### Known Issues: External Controllers - Linux Desktop
Linux Desktop via Steam Input is complex. There are a lot of variables and the RetroDECK Team don't have the ability to test for all of them:
- What kind of packages are installed.
- What kind of drivers you have installed.
- What distro you are using.
- What desktop you are using.
- If you are running X11 or Wayland.
- If you have a Steam Deck based Distro with Valves "Game Mode".
We are trying to keep track of all the issues here and have reported several to Valve:
https://github.com/XargonWan/RetroDECK/issues/716
**Bug: Destop Profiles take preset over Game Profile**
Since the one of the recent Steam Client updates, there is a bug that causes Steam to take the Desktop Profile instead of the Game Profile. Sometimes it even takes both inputs and sends double inputs for every action.
Possible solutions by our users and team members:
- Try and use the RetroDECK Profile as the Desktop Profile and turning off the Game Profile.
- Going into big picture and launching RetroDECK from there.
- Starting big picture, exiting big picture and then launching RetroDECK from the Desktop Client.
**Bug: Missing Radials in certain systems**
The radial menus on certain Linux Systems are hidden behind the game window or the Steam overlay (they still work and you can navigate them).
[The Generic - Standard](https://retrodeck.readthedocs.io/en/latest/wiki_controllers/generic/standard/generic-standard/) encompasses the vast majority of none official third party controllers that have all the buttons of a modern controller like 8BitDo Pro2 or the Xiaomi Controller.
We in the RetroDECK Team hopes everyone in our little community likes the update. If you find any issues please read here on how to report them (no software is free of bugs including RetroDECK):
